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Chattanooga Sex Crimes Lawyer

Accusations alone that you have perpetrated a sex crime are highly damaging to your life, but a conviction is devastating. If you are facing these allegations, you are likely to need the assistance that only legal counsel could offer you. A Chattanooga sex crimes lawyer could help you build a powerful defense to the charges that you are facing.

Hiring a criminal defense lawyer as quickly as possible following an arrest could be crucial to your ability to adequately defend yourself against the state’s charges. Although the potential penalties may vary according to the type of sex crime charges you are facing, they all are likely to be severe. As a result, enlisting the services of legal counsel may be your most reliable means of reaching a favorable resolution in your case.

Types of Sex Crimes in Chattanooga

State law outlines and describes various types of sex offenses, some of which carry the potential for harsher penalties than others. Some of these crimes include:

  • Sexual battery and aggravated sexual battery
  • Statutory rape and aggravated statutory rape
  • Rape
  • Sexual exploitation of a minor

Other sex offenses include child pornography, child molestation, indecent exposure, and sex trafficking. Crimes that involve interstate commerce, such as sex trafficking and child pornography, may subject individuals to charges under federal law instead of state law, depending on the circumstances.

The most severe offenses typically include adults who commit these crimes with minors and sex crimes that involve physical force or violence. When individuals are facing any sex offense charges, they should not hesitate to contact a sex crimes lawyer in Chattanooga for advice.

Chattanooga Sexual Battery Offenses

Sexual battery is one of the most common sex offenses under state law. Under Tennessee Code Annotated § 39-13-505, sexual battery occurs when individuals have unlawful sexual contact with others that they carry out:

  • Using force or coercion
  • Intentionally and without consent
  • Knowingly against those who are mentally incapacitated, mentally defective, or physically helpless
  • Using fraud

Sexual battery is a Class E felony under Tennessee law, which could result in a prison term extending from one to six years and a maximum $3,000 fine. However, if the offense rises to the level of aggravated sexual battery, the crime is a Class B felony, which could cause a prison sentence of up to 30 years and a fine of up to $25,000. Due to the severity of these sanctions, when facing sexual battery charges, the assistance of a sex crimes attorney in Chattanooga may be crucial.

Statutory Rape Offense in Chattanooga

Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-506 provides for the separate offenses of statutory rape, mitigated statutory rape, and aggravated statutory rape. The differences between the crimes depend on the ages of the parties involved. For instance, mitigated statutory rape consists of a person between the ages of 15 and 18 and a person who is between four and five years older than the other person.

Statutory rape involves a 13 to 15-year-old and another person who is between four and ten years older than the other person. It is also statutory rape if the offense consists of a 15 to 18-year-old and another person who is between five and ten years older than the other person. Aggravated statutory rape, however, occurs between a person who is between 13 and 18 years old and another person who is at least ten years older.

Talk to a Chattanooga Sex Crimes Attorney for Advice

You have the right to defend yourself against accusations of committing a sex crime, regardless of the circumstances. As such, you should consider the benefits of hiring a Chattanooga sex crimes lawyer to defend you. Skilled legal counsel may be able to help you navigate the criminal justice system more efficiently and reach the outcome in your case that you desire.

A conviction for a sex crime could alter the course of your life significantly. Many sex crime convictions require lifetime sex offender registration, which impacts your daily activities, including where you live and work. Rather than risk these severe repercussions, get the legal advice that you need at the outset of your case.

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